[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 91 (Thursday, July 13, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7506-S7507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                   U.S. Army Lieutenant Shaw Vaughan

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I wish to take a moment of the Senate's 
time to remember a Coloradan who was lost to us last month in defense 
of this Nation.
  Shaw Vaughan was a loving and supportive son and older brother, an 
avid hunter and fly fisherman. One of his most prized possessions was 
his 1969 Jeepster Commando, an off-roading vehicle he had personally 
rebuilt, affectionately named Hercules. Hercules sits quiet today, its 
red finish gleaming undimmed in the mountain sun.
  U.S. Army LT John Shaw Vaughan, of Edwards, in Eagle County in my 
State of Colorado, was killed on June 7 in Mosul, Iraq. Lieutenant 
Vaughan

[[Page S7507]]

was a young man with his entire life before him: He was a mere 23 years 
old, and had been in Iraq only a month.
  As a middle school student, Shaw Vaughan caught the eye of our 
military leaders for his regional science fair project: comparing the 
accuracy of store-bought ammunition with ammunition he had assembled. 
He graduated Battle Mountain High School in 2001 and attended Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. Upon graduation, 
Lieutenant Vaughan was one of only 70 cadets, out of 5,000, to receive 
a much-sought-after assignment in military intelligence in the 
infantry. It was a high honor, reflecting his intellect, work ethic, 
and commitment to our Nation.
  Lieutenant Vaughan was stationed in Alaska, a part of our country he 
had visited with his family years earlier. I guess you could say that 
Alaska had ``hooked'' the fisherman in Lieutenant Vaughan, and he was 
looking forward to his service there after he completed his time in 
Iraq.
  Lieutenant Vaughan was eager to get to Iraq, to serve with his unit. 
In his e-mails and phone calls back home, Lieutenant Vaughan spoke of 
how strongly he felt about America's mission in Iraq. He told stories 
of Iraqi families leading him into their homes, telling him horror 
stories of their families' sufferings under the brutal regime of Saddam 
Hussein.
  As one newspaper in my home State observed, it seems that every story 
about Shaw Vaughan was different and yet the same: ``one of a great guy 
and a courageous man lost too soon.''
  In Act III of William Shakespeare's classic ``Henry V,'' King Henry 
says with pride, ``As I am a soldier, A name that in my thoughts 
becomes me best . . .''
  I will think of this today as I bow my head in prayer for the loss of 
Lieutenant Vaughan, a life of such great promise that was snuffed out 
too soon. He was living his life to its fullest, on the great adventure 
before him. But we can rest assured that Lieutenant Vaughan had the 
convictions of his beliefs, and that he fulfilled his beliefs to the 
end.
  Lieutenant Shaw Vaughan took pride in his life as a soldier, and it 
is truly a name that, in all of our thoughts, becomes him best.

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